Page 43 of If the Boot Fits

Thompson’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but the defiant light in his eyes didn’t dim. He backed up a step, though, and lifted the bottle to his mouth. He took a long swig, then offered a parting jab. “You ain’t always going to be around, cowboy.” He shifted his gaze to Samantha as he staggered away. “Watch your back, missy. What goes around, comes around.”

Asher kept his eye on Thompson until the man made it back to the saloon and gathered his horse. Took him three tries to get his foot in the stirrup, but he eventually found his way into the saddle and set off down the road.

The instant Thompson turned the corner and disappeared behind one of the buildings, Asher pivoted to face Samantha. “Are you all right?” He didn’t like the way she was rubbing her wrist. “He hurt you, didn’t he?”

She shook her head, not meeting his gaze. “It’s just a little sore. I’ll be fine.” She lifted her head and scowled in the direction Thompson had left. “I hope he keeps riding and never comes back.”

“Men say thickheaded things when they’re drunk.” The threats Thompson made rang loud in his ears. How much louder must they be ringing in hers? “Whiskey loosens their tongue and props them up with false courage. When he sobers up, he’ll regret his words against you.”

“If he even remembers them,” Jack muttered as he joined their little circle.

“Oh, I’m not worried about myself,” Samantha protested. “It’s Ida Mae I’m concerned about. If Leroy blames me for losing his job, he might blame her even more. And she doesn’t have two strong Ellis men to protect her like I do.” She grinned brightly at Jack, then aimed a slightly more serious look of gratitude in Asher’s direction.

His chest ached with the urge to pledge to protect her always. But he kept his jaw locked down until the words dissolved on his tongue. He was in no position to make her any promises. Not now. Maybe not ever.

“Who’s Ida Mae?” Jack asked.

“A friend of mine who was treated poorly by that man.” Her face scrunched in distaste. It didn’t take much imagination on Asher’s part to surmise what that poor treatment entailed. “But if everything goes according to plan, she won’t have to worry about him anymore.” Her eyes brightened. “Daddy gave me permission to hire her on at the Three Cedars as a housemaid and assistant cook. She and Jimmy will be safe from Leroy there.”

“You should still let your father know about the threats.” Asher collected her hand and smoothed the pad of his thumb over the red marks on her wrist. The idea of her being in any kind of danger rattled him more than he wanted to admit. “I doubt anything will come of it,” he said as he gently released her hand, “but it’s always better to be prepared than taken by surprise.”

Her eyes met his, and his gut tightened.

“I will.” Her soft voice roughened slightly, and the sound set his blood to pumping as if he were sprinting down a hill instead of standing perfectly still in the middle of the street.

“I, uh, better get back to the livery.” Jack retreated. The teasing look in his eyes as he glanced from Asher to Samantha made Asher want to throw his brother in the nearest trough, but thankfully, Samantha didn’t seem to comprehend the implication.

“Wait!” She grabbed Jack’s hand and drew him back. “Before you go, I’ve got news.” She glanced back at Asher, her eyes dancing with the kind of joyous secrets that usually only came on Christmas morning. “I’ve secured permission for us to work your mother’s garden!”

“What?” Asher’s world tilted slightly off-balance.

Samantha practically bounced where she stood. “Isn’t it wonderful? No one has rented the property yet, so Daddy didn’t see a reason to deny the request. I have to be there to represent the Three Cedars to keep anyone from claiming theft, and the house will remain locked, but that shouldn’t cause any difficulty. I just came from visiting with your mother. She thinks that working a couple mornings a week would be sufficient to get the garden back into shape. I know the two of you won’t be able to help because of your other responsibilities, but I’ll lend a hand, and if Ida Mae takes the job I offer, she can help, too. Fergus can keep an eye on Jimmy while we ladies work. My knowledge of gardening is woefully inadequate, but your mother assures me it’s easy to learn. I’m rather looking forward to it, if you can believe it.”

Believe it? He could barely comprehend it.

Asher traded a look with Jack, both of them unable to do more than stand there and blink. One didn’t often witness miracles packaged in fancy blue dresses.

20

Samantha drove the half mile out to Ida Mae’s home, trying to convince her pulse to return to normal after her encounter with Asher. One would expect her run-in with Leroy to have the more unsettling effect, but memories of Asher’s staunch defense and tender care had her pulse skipping more beats than a one-handed drummer.

He’d insisted on walking her back to his mother’s place to collect her wagon. He didn’t have much to say during their stroll, but that didn’t dim the pleasure she took in his company. Asher was the kind of man to warm a lady’s heart just by standing at her side. No poetic words or sophisticated airs required. His eyes said everything her heart longed to hear. They glowed with respect, with protective concern, and with a heated interest that would have had her scrambling for her hand fan had she been in a ballroom instead of on a dusty Texas street.

For the first time since her father broached the subject of marriage, the idea didn’t completely leave her cold. Not if Asher Ellis presented himself as a matrimonial candidate.

Easy, girl. You just met the man.

Yet she felt like she’d known him so much longer. Like a sauce that had reduced down to a thick syrup, they might not have a large volume of shared experiences, but those they did have had been concentrated for maximum potency. She’d been courted by enough men to know that what she felt for Asher was special. Worth investigating at the very least. Maybe even worth nurturing, to see how deep the roots might grow.

Hard to nurture a relationship with a man living three counties away, though. She had no connections in Callahan County, no relative or friend there to provide an excuse for her to visit. And from what she’d gathered from talking with his mother, Asher didn’t come home to Palo Pinto very often. The next couple of weeks might be all the time she had with him.

Unless he left the Bar 7 and came to work for her father.

Her thoughts skidded to a halt. The Three Cedars did have a newly vacated position. Would Asher be interested in a change of scenery? Her heartbeat kicked into a trot at the notion of having him nearby on a more permanent basis. Until she recalled her father’s strict policy against any of his hired men fraternizing with his daughter. Ugh. Which was worse—not seeing Asher for months at a time, or seeing him but not being allowed to pursue a relationship with him? Samantha frowned, uninspired by either option.

Reining the team of Morgans to the right, she drove the buckboard down the rutted path that led to the Forrester homestead and forced thoughts of Asher from her mind. Ida Mae hadn’t been overly pleased with Samantha’s interference in her business yesterday. She’d likely resent her interference today as well. Nevertheless, Samantha intended to stick her nose right back into her friend’s private affairs no matter how uncomfortable it proved to either of them. The stakes were too high to let comfort dictate her level of involvement.

The creaking wagon wood and jangling harness must have announced her arrival, for the front door opened. Matilda Forrester stepped onto the porch, lifting a hand to her forehead to shade her eyes.